Heaton Wore Wire to Snag Bob Ney

Bob Ney aide Will Heaton is set for sentencing in federal court on Thursday. The Boston Globe today reports he wore a wire to nab Ney and is proud to have done so.

Will Heaton let FBI agents record his telephone calls and taped a 2 1/2-hour meeting with Ney. He leaked documents and worked late into the night and on weekends to avoid arousing suspicion that he was working with the government.

"The moment I walked into my first meeting with the Justice Department, a huge weight was lifted off my chest," Heaton wrote in a letter to US District Judge Ellen Segal Huvelle. "For the first time in years I felt at peace with myself and I knew I was finally making the right choice."

As to Heaton's misconduct:

Heaton pleaded guilty to federal conspiracy. He admitted accepting a golf trip to Scotland, expensive meals, and tickets to sporting events between 2002 and 2004 as payoffs for helping clients of disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

Heaton faces up to five years in prison. His guidelines are 18 to 24 months but he's asking for probation due to how hard he worked for the FBI.